Former Thailand premier convicted

Step may mean longer stalemate

Anti-government protesters celebrated inside the government house in Bangkok yesterday when a Thai court found former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (left) guilty of corruption and sentenced him to two years in prison, further deepening the country's paralyzing political crisis (Sakchai Lalit/Associated Press)

BANGKOK - Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was convicted of corruption yesterday and sentenced to two years in prison, a ruling that may embolden antigovernment protesters and prolong a stalemate that has paralyzed Thailand's government.

Thaksin dismissed as politically motivated the charges involving a real estate purchase by his wife, while prosecutors said they would try to extradite the former telecommunications tycoon from exile in Britain.

Thaksin, who was ousted by a 2006 coup, remains the country's most influential politician. He is adored in rural areas, where he built up a political base during his six years in power, but reviled by many of the educated elite in the cities, where his administration was seen as deeply corrupt.

His brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, is the current prime minister and has been the target of ongoing demonstrations by protesters who have branded him a Thaksin puppet.

The verdict handed down yesterday by a nine-member Supreme Court panel appeared to mark the first time a former Thai prime minister had been convicted of corruption for actions taken while in office.

Thaksin, 59, had earlier fled to Britain in the face of almost certain conviction.

Speaking by telephone from his home near London, he said the verdict was a continuation of the coup that ousted him two years ago.

"It was expected, it wasn't a surprise and there will be more (charges) to come," Thaksin said.

He said he planned to remain in Britain.

Thousands of anti-Thaksin demonstrators erupted in cheers at hearing the verdict in the protest camp they set up almost two months ago on the premises of the prime minister's office.

"Go to jail, go to jail!" they chanted.

But it was unclear whether Thaksin would serve jail time. He also faces a string of other cases involving alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Seksan Bangsomboon, a prosecutor handling the case, said officials were planning to ask the British government to extradite Thaksin. Britain's Home Office would not comment on whether an extradition request had been received.

Extradition across borders is usually a lengthy and complicated process, and many countries are reluctant to approve it in cases where there may be reason to believe that politics played a part in the legal proceedings.